Kenyans are facing a severe drought crisis, with the prices of basic commodities such as maize flour, milk, tomatoes, cooking oil, onions, and sukuma wiki reaching a new high, similar to the levels seen in the 2009 drought. The deepening drought has claimed lives across the country, and the spending power of citizens is dwindling.
The government's declaration of a drought and famine emergency may not yield immediate results due to internal contradictions within the government. For instance, on February 6, 2017, the Deputy President stated that there was enough food for everyone, just days before the President declared the famine a disaster and appealed for help.
Rt. Hon Raila Odinga has urged the government to take immediate action to address the crisis. He proposes the following measures for pastoralists:
- Open up idle government lands with pasture to allow pastoralists to graze their cattle, with government agricultural extension officers managing the movement of animals.
- Appeal to citizens with large tracts of idle land to allow herders to access their farms under the supervision of agricultural officers.
- Negotiate with big ranchers to allow pastoralists to seek pasture on their land, with government agricultural extension officers assisting in this effort.
- Use government trucks, including military vehicles, to transport animals from areas with limited resources to government and private ranches.
- Deploy military water bowsers to provide water to animal populations where water resources have dried up.
- Transport animal fodder, such as hay, to animals that are too weak to move or be moved.
For the rest of the population, Odinga recommends the following emergency interventions:
- The government should purchase food from farmers who are holding onto their produce in anticipation of higher prices, with the National Cereals and Produce Board buying the produce at a minimum price of Ksh 4000.
- Establish emergency feeding and medical centers in the most affected areas, where Kenyans facing starvation can receive immediate care and relief.
- Forge partnerships with civil society organizations, community-based organizations, and non-governmental organizations, which often have faster response times and better-trained personnel to handle disaster situations.
- Set up a record-keeping system to track pastoralists' stock and animal losses during the drought, with restocking herds being a priority when the rains return.
Odinga emphasizes that the government can achieve more and relieve suffering faster by relying on the precision, discipline, and efficiency of the military in implementing these measures.
